sorry just had to vent ...

[tenaseewalker]

My son is now twelve years old. The first time he ever went to Disney World was at 2 yrs. of age. If you ask him about his very first trip, he can tell you most of the things we had done. So I truely don't believe that 2 yrs.old is to young. My son was scared to death of Rafiki at two years old and to this day Rafiki still gives him the creeps..

 

[bwilcox]

My 2-year-old daughter LOVED WDW! We went last June, and still her favorite thing to play is to pack up some toys in a bag and pretend we are going on a trip to WDW. We sit on the couch and pretend we're on Dumbo. We build the tree from the Pooh playground with blocks. Every...single...day! So I'd say the trip was a hit with my 2 year old!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

People still give me a hard time about taking our kids and they'll be 4 and 2 on our next trip! WDW means more to my family than just the rides. It is COMPLETELY different when you run the World with LOs.

Maybe we are crazy, but at least we get our kids accustomed to the World and we don't have to pay for them!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

We went in 2007 with our then 4 year old daughter, and our 9 month old daughter. Our 4 year old (now going on 8) still remembers stuff from the trip, and while the 9 month old (now going on 4) doesn't remember anything, at least I remember her reactions to the characters. Like when we had breakfast at Chef Mickey's and she was having a blast playing with Minnie Mouse's nose.

We are going again in December, and I am sure my 4 year old will get more out of it than she did at 9 months, but I will always have the memories of her there when she was still a baby.

Like others have said as well, you will probably be planning for stuff that includes a 2 year old. You won't be taking her on Expdition Everest, but can plan for activities that a 2 year old will enjoy.

 

[r&kmommy]

the only time I would say that 2 is young to go to disney is if you don't go frequently, and if you weren't going to go back for a loooong time. We go every year, so taking our son when he was 3 months was no biggie, sure he wouldn't remember it, but it doesn't matter becuase next trip or trip after, he'd have a blast!

But if you want to take your son just to take him, but wouldn't have the means to go back for 3-4-5 more years, I'd say wait another year because then at 3 he'd totally remember the trip.

Hope that makes sense LOL!

 

[Luvchefmic]

If one more person tells me my son will be too young to go to Disney when we take him I am going to scream (he'll be 2 years old). I know that's not to young and even if it was isn't it up to us and not anyone else??????????? I mean it's not like we're going to take him on TOT or anything like that!!

Thanks, just needed to yell with people who understand

Such is the world we live in..everybody has an opinion on what we should do with OUR life...from cradle to grave....shouldn't feed this, are they dressed warm enough/cool enough, why is she/he getting (or not getting) fill in the __________ from allowance, to chores, to a pet you get the jist, to opinion on choice of job/school/career/partner/political persusion/religious belief/choice of home/rent/where to live/to why did you bury her/him in that?

Just about sums up life heh ?? Important thing is YOUR life, YOUR child, YOUR decisions......got to learn to let it all roll off our backs like water on a duck...enjoy your trip & your life

 

[kstinw19]

I have been reading all of your posts and thinking about it. It's not that you think that your dd or ds will remember the trip, it's about watching your child light up and be truly happy. It's wanting to see the excitement your children feel when they see the castle, ride the monorail, see the characters, swim in the pools.

For us, it's a place where no one has to feel the pressure of a test, the whole family can do something they love, the day to day monotony is gone, etc.

Dad is not on his cell phone with work, mom is not too busy with the housework, the kids don't have to eat their vegetables and do their homework.

It is just joy and excitement and it's having the whole family together and happy for a while.

My dd was 3 when we first took her and her brother was 2. From the moment we arrived, she was in love. Almost every day since then she has talked about Disney. She has every map memorized, every trivia question answered, every trip planned. And now we are taking her 2yo brother to watch his face as he experiences everything just as she did.

And that is what some people don't understand...it's just watching the joy on my child's faces, whether they are 2 or 22. That is the best memory of all.

 

[IDoBelieveinFairies!]

I don't think people realize the impact of what they consider a casual comment can start.

I remember taking my oldest niece to DW when she was still in diapers, and you know what the whole family was enchanted watching her reaction to the WORLD! Isn't it funny how can can stop just for a moment and see the world through a childs eyes, and realize how precious those moments were, and how fun to be included in those moments!

When ever I have heard that over the years, I always think to myself," if I was going vacationing up to the mountains, or any where else, we would not exactly leave our young one behind or not go. So why do people say this about DISNEY?". That same small child would impact us vacationing in those spots too, but family adapts and it is no big deal!

SO go enjoy, we did and you know I would have not missed it for the world!

 

[smidgy]

the only time I would say that 2 is young to go to disney is if you don't go frequently, and if you weren't going to go back for a loooong time. We go every year, so taking our son when he was 3 months was no biggie, sure he wouldn't remember it, but it doesn't matter becuase next trip or trip after, he'd have a blast!

But if you want to take your son just to take him, but wouldn't have the means to go back for 3-4-5 more years, I'd say wait another year because then at 3 he'd totally remember the trip.

Hope that makes sense LOL!

I agree. If you can only go evry 3-4 years, I would wait.

OTHERWISE..go! you'll have fun, you'll have pictures. who knows what he will remember?

I've heard people say, wait until they're 6 or 7 and will remember it. my answer is: if you can only do things with your kids when you are SURE they will remember, you might as well do nothing with them for the first 4-5 years of their life!

 

[chrismb22]

OMG! I must have been so aggravated when I posted this I completely forgot I posted!!!

Thanks guys!! I knew I'd get some relief on here!!

And to the person who saw the one week old at Disneyland Paris -- wow, just wow! I'm not judging I'm just amazed that someone was that awake to do anything!! I think back to when mine was one week and I was like a zombie! I remember telling my husband if someone gave us an all-expense paid trip with rooms in the Grand Floridian right now I'd turn it down -- or I'd just sleep the entire time LOL

 

[Kimmy0879]

Agreed! My son is 9 months old and he is going on his second trip in Septmeber! YOU GO!!!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Opinions are just that, opinions. We give them, others give them. I am sure that I may give some that people would rather not hear. I hope that they give me grace, and I try to do the same for them. They have no power that you don't give them. That is what relationships are about.

Have a great trip.

 

[ChillyWilleys]

I have brought ages 6mos - 5 years. 2 years old was my favorite! Magical! No fear! Can ride many things! Free!

 

[HolliePoppins]

We are taking our daughters in Sept. and for our youngest (she will be 23 months old) it will be her 1st trip. I cant wait to bring her. We only went once when our older children were younger (3 & 7 months) and only did MGM(then) and Universal. We didnt make it back with them until they were 11 & 8 and then had several trips after that. I know this trip will be very different from our most recent trips(We toured a little commando style mostly in the mornings and then relaxed in the afternoon).

I havn't had anyone say anything about taking her. I think if I did I would come out with "Did you have birthday parties for your kids when they were small? Hopefully they would get the message.

 

[kampfirekim]

Don't worry. People always find something to say. I hear "Aren't your kids getting too old for Disney?" Seriously, you can't win with some folks!

Amen to that!

We took a 1 1/2 yr old and a 3 month old in 2004. We knew our oldest would love it, but we were amazed at how much our 3 mo old took in. He loved it too! Even if they can't remember their first trip, we definitely do! Besides DS6 LOVES looking at the pics and captions in the scrapbook of his first trip! Not to mention the videos. A 23 month old at Disney will be magical! Hope you have a fantastic time!

PS, I've been going to Disney since 1973, I hope my next trip doesn't depend on memories from a previous one! (If it does I may be in trouble. LOL) BTW, HolliePoppins, I love the birthday party wisecrack! Sounds like something I'd say!

 

[tavettava]

I wish we would of taken our kids when they were that young. Our first trip was when dd was 12 (15 now) and ds was 9 (12 now). Ds at 2 loved Toy Story (sshh dont tell his friends but he still loves it ), dd loved The Little Mermaid. You take your kids and have fun. My niece just turned 10 months and so would love to take her, but she is scared of strange people so we are going to wait. I hate when people who have never been say "why are you going there and wasting your money?"

 

[RumpleMom]

Our kids are twentysomethings and they still like to go to Disney with us. We also like to go with just the two of us.

When someone makes a comment about going to Disney again, I just say that Disney is our "home away from home". WDW is where we are comfortable and can relax. WDW has something for all generations and we have done 3 generation trips too.

And best of all, WDW helps to keep our family together. The kids are busy getting their careers started, but DVC lets us come together to have fun. DVC allows us to bring extended family and the kid's friends.

If someone is particularly questioning about Disney again, I'll tell them we own a timeshare and have to use it.

Actually, I think people are jealous that our DD and husband and other DD want to vacation with us, when they don't vacation with their adult kids, claiming they just can't take any time off from work.

 

[daleswife]

my son turned three in november and he's been 3 times already!!! Once at 3 months, once at 21 months, and once at 34 months (almost 3). He remembers a whole lot of the last trip. People who say that just dont get Disney. Dont let it bug you, Have a great time!!!

 

[brergnat]

Stop telling people you are going. Tell them where you went when you come BACK.

 

[purvislets]

I hate those comments too!

We took DD on her first Disney trip at 18 months and she absolutely loved it! Sure, there are bits and pieces she didn't remember and we didn't get to do the whole park in a day, but she had a wonderful time and the pictures and memories for me will last forever.

On our last trip, DS was only 5 months old. Naturally, he slept for almost the entire trip, but when he was awake he loved looking around at all the lights and people.

What bothered me the most about that trip was the dirty looks people would give me when they saw how young he was. You could almost read it right on their faces how much they wanted to come up and tell me that I shouldn't have brought him. He was well taken care of, suncreened and hydrated and not screaming his head off, so what was their problem?

Best thing to do is ignore people like that. Enjoy your trip!